English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Top Stories

Rs 6 crore recovered from Karnataka BJP MLA’s son’s residence a day after he was caught taking Rs 40 lakh bribe

This comes as a setback for the ruling BJP in Karnataka, as the state is set to go to the polls later in 2023.

Published

on

Rs 6 crore recovered from BJP MLA residence

A day after Karnataka BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’s son Prashanth Madal was caught red-handed for taking a bribe, the anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta has now recovered Rs 6 crore cash from his residence

Prashanth, who is serving as the chief accounts officer in the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), was arrested on Friday after he was caught accepting a bribe worth Rs 40 lakh. According to the reports, the Lokayukta officials have also seized Rs 1.7 crore from Kumar’s office.

Lokayukta officials said they conducted searches at his office and found Rs 1.7 crore. They suspect that Prashanth was receiving bribes on behalf of his father. The police and the anti-corruption branch officials are investigating the source of the money they found at his office.

Read Also: BJP lashes out at Rahul Gandhi’s statement in Cambridge, Anurag Thakur says defaming India is his habit

Prashanth was caught taking a bribe in order to get a deal to buy raw materials for the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), whose chairman is his father, Madal Virupakshappa. The authorities are likely to question BJP MLA Virupakshappa as the bribe money was received on behalf of the KSDL Chairman for the raw material procurement tender.

This comes as a setback for the ruling BJP in Karnataka, as the state is set to go to the polls later in 2023. The incident was brought to light at a time when the opposition in Karnataka is criticizing the BJP government over bribery and a 40 percent commission on government contracts. Prashanth allegedly wanted Rs 80 lakh in bribes to have the tender process approved.

Last year, the Contractor association had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over complaints about corruption by Ministers.

Karnataka hijab ban: Supreme Court to form bench for plea seeking permission to allow hijab during exams

Mamata Banerjee dismisses alliance with left-Congress against BJP, says will fight alone in 2024

India News

Veer Bal Diwas reflects courage, conviction and righteousness, Says PM Modi

PM Modi on Friday paid tribute to the Sahibzades on Veer Bal Diwas, calling it a day of courage, conviction and righteousness.

Published

on

pm modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to the Sahibzades on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas, remembering their sacrifice and courage. He said the day stands as a reminder of courage, conviction and righteousness, values that continue to inspire generations.

In a message shared on social media, the Prime Minister said Veer Bal Diwas is dedicated to remembering the sacrifice of the brave Sahibzades. He recalled the unwavering faith of Mata Gujri Ji and the immortal teachings of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, describing them as ideals that motivate people even today.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister will participate in the national programme marking Veer Bal Diwas at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. He is also scheduled to address the gathering during the event.

Nationwide programmes to mark Veer Bal Diwas

To commemorate Veer Bal Diwas, the Government of India is organising participative programmes across the country. The objective is to inform and educate citizens about the extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice of the Sahibzades, and to honour the valour of the young heroes of India’s history.

These activities include storytelling sessions, recitations, poster-making and essay-writing competitions. The programmes will be conducted in schools, Child Care Institutions, Anganwadi centres and other educational platforms, along with online activities through the MyGov and MyBharat portals.

Veer Bal Diwas is observed on December 26 to commemorate the martyrdom of Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Prime Minister had announced the observance on the occasion of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in January 2022.

Awardees of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar will also be present at the programme.

Continue Reading

India News

Delhi air quality improves slightly but stays in poor category

Delhi’s air quality improved slightly on Friday with the AQI falling to the poor category, though many areas continue to record very poor pollution levels.

Published

on

Delhi's air quality

Delhi witnessed a marginal improvement in air quality on Friday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping into the ‘poor’ category. Official data showed the city’s average AQI at 292, offering limited relief after pollution levels had touched the ‘severe’ mark earlier this week.

The improvement comes days after Delhi recorded an AQI of 412 on December 23, placing air quality firmly in the ‘severe’ category. Over the last two days, pollution levels have shown a gradual decline across multiple monitoring stations in the national capital.

Some stations record moderate air quality

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer mobile application, three locations reported ‘moderate’ air quality as of early morning. Lodhi Road-IITM recorded an AQI of 160, Lodhi Road-IMD stood at 194, while Najafgarh reported 188.

Several other parts of the city remained in the ‘poor’ category. Areas including Aya Nagar, CRRI Mathura Road, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Dwarka Sector 8, IGI Airport Terminal 3, IIT Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Mandir Marg recorded AQI values ranging between the low 200s and high 200s.

Very poor air persists in pollution hotspots

Despite the overall improvement, many parts of Delhi continued to struggle with ‘very poor’ air quality. Anand Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Narela, Nehru Nagar, Sonia Vihar and Vivek Vihar reported some of the highest AQI readings, with values crossing 350 at several locations.

In view of the easing pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management lifted Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV restrictions across the Delhi-National Capital Region on December 24. Officials indicated that further relaxations could be considered if the downward trend in pollution continues.

Mixed air quality across NCR

Air quality in neighbouring NCR regions showed mixed trends. In Haryana, Bahadurgarh recorded a ‘very poor’ AQI of 301, while Gurugram’s overall AQI stood at 270, falling in the ‘poor’ category. One monitoring station in Gurugram’s Sector 51 reported ‘very poor’ air quality with an AQI of 375. Dharuhera also remained in the ‘poor’ range.

In Uttar Pradesh, pollution levels stayed elevated. Ghaziabad recorded an overall AQI of 344, with all monitoring stations reporting ‘very poor’ air quality. Greater Noida’s AQI stood at 362, while Knowledge Park-V and Knowledge Park-III recorded AQI levels of 386 and 337 respectively. Noida also remained in the ‘very poor’ category with an AQI of 334.

Authorities have restricted the entry of non-BS 6 vehicles into Delhi, a move that has blocked around 1.2 million older vehicles registered outside the city. Vehicular emissions remain a key contributor to winter pollution, with experts estimating that vehicles account for up to 40 per cent of particulate matter pollution in the NCR.

Continue Reading

Latest world news

Khaleda son Tarique Rahman arrives to rapturous welcome in Bangladesh

Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh after 17 years and, in his first speech, invoked Martin Luther King while outlining what he called a plan for the country’s future.

Published

on

Khalida Zia son

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after 17 years in exile, outlined his political vision in his first public address, drawing a comparison with American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech.

Addressing a massive gathering in Dhaka, Rahman said that just as Martin Luther King spoke of a dream, he wished to speak of a concrete plan for Bangladesh. He referred to the country as “Beloved Bangladesh” and thanked party leaders, workers and citizens who stood by the BNP during his absence.

Rahman, the son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, said that his plan would succeed only with public support and urged citizens to participate actively in nation-building.

Parallels drawn with 1971 and 2024 movements

In his speech, Rahman linked the 1971 Liberation War with the 2024 uprising against the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said those who lost their lives in these movements should be honoured by building the country they had envisioned.

“We liberated Bangladesh in 1971, and we liberated it again in 2024,” he said, adding that the events of 2024 were about defending the country’s independence and sovereignty. He stressed the need to “repay the blood debt of the martyrs” through responsible governance.

Emphasis on tolerance, safety and economic rights

Touching upon Bangladesh’s social fabric, Rahman said the country belongs to everyone, irrespective of religion or geography, and underlined the importance of tolerance. He spoke about creating a safe environment where women, men and children can move freely without fear.

He also said the BNP would focus on peace, political reform and strengthening the economy. Referring to student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, Rahman said he had dreamt of a democratic Bangladesh and promised justice in connection with his killing, along with restoring people’s economic rights.

Call to youth and visit to Khaleda Zia

Rahman called upon the younger generation to take responsibility for development and stability, stressing that collective effort would be crucial to implementing his plan for Bangladesh.

After the address, he left to visit his ailing mother, Khaleda Zia, who is undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital.

Rahman has been living in exile since 2008 following convictions in multiple corruption cases, which he has described as politically motivated. He has also alleged that the previous government attempted to assassinate him through torture.

With the Awami League barred from contesting elections, the political landscape has narrowed significantly. The BNP now holds a dominant position, and Rahman’s return has added fresh momentum and uncertainty to Bangladesh’s political future.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com

Left Menu Icon